I am visiting San Antonio and happened to visit Burgerteca and had a delightful experience.

Your reviewer seemed to have an entirely different experience. He also missed the opportunity to note the burger buns are made in-house, along with the ice cream. The beef is fresh, the veggie beet burger exceptional, and the mole fries were amazing and unique.

They have been in operation for two months I was told. This place deserves a second bite.

Not that you care, but I wanted to update you on the status of my New Year’s resolution.

Although I have been slow in exercising and eating right, I am perfect in not reading the A section or the Opinion pages of the Express-News, and I feel pretty good about it. I see it every day on the kitchen table, and I don’t even pick it up except to place it in front of my wife. When she brings up items from those sections, I ask her if any new viewpoints have been presented, so if the paper does change, I’ll know when to start reading it again. So far, no change.

To be clear, I’m not ignoring the other side, whom I feel you solidly represent. It is my own personal boycott (even though I continue to pay for a subscription). I will read those sections again when you start presenting both sides of the political arguments in this city, state and country.

I don’t think County Judge Nelson Wolff’s statement about city manager Sheryl Sculley’s salary was merely just kidding. The salary is exorbitant, and she is grossly overpaid. As for a huge bonus, what has she really done? San Antonio’s streets are like driving down a cattle trail. In my neighborhood, inside loop 410 by the airport and North Star Mall, the streets are horrendous. Taxi drivers avoid Jones Maltsberger whenever possible.

Please print what all these great things she has accomplished are, because everyone I talk to would like to know. The voters are definitely paying attention.

City Manager Sheryl Sculley does deserve a raise. With a $2.7 billion operation and 12,000 employees, Sheryl has not only handled this awesome responsibility but achieved an eighth consecutive AAA bond rating from the three major rating agencies. Due to her hard work, San Antonio continues to be the only major U.S. city to secure this highest rating.

Among critical council members, one stands out, Greg Brockhouse, who has the unadulterated nerve to state that “we have had one of the worst years and a bonus is not warranted for Sculley.” Brockhouse is trying to belittle everyone who is successful. He constantly criticizes Mayor Ron Nirenberg with negative statements about any plans he presents to council.

Former City Councilman Ray Lopez backed Joseph Cortez in 2017, instead of Brockhouse. One wonders why? Could it be his abrasive attitude? Could Brockhouse achieve even one-fourth of what Sheryl Sculley has achieved? Absolutely not.

It was pathetic to watch the Grammys and see women wearing white roses cheering homophobic misogynists who sing about “hoes.” The disconnect was astonishing even by Hollywood standards. You shower these Neanderthals with Grammys and bash Donald Trump? It’s hypocrisy at its most tiresome. Do they even listen to what they are cheering and awarding?

Rap music is the most homophobic, misogynistic music ever created, and liberals celebrate it, as if it were gospel music, never stopping to see the absolute total hypocrisy. It’s disgusting. You have Meryl Streep bashing Trump at the Oscars, while ignoring Harvey Weinstein rumors and working with that pig. Liberal, progressive Hollywood, full to the brim with misogynistic homophobes. The fox guarding the henhouse, to be sure.

The Grammy Awards had its worst rating in years, and it’s no wonder; these shows have just become DNC conventions, an excuse to bash Trump and ignore their closets full of skeletons. Doctor, heal thyself.

If they are the alternative to Trump, I think I’ll move to New Zealand — Texan to Kiwi.

Since City Manager Sheryl Sculley makes more money than God, Methuselah, Abraham and Moses combined, it might behoove her either to find or buy herself a sense of humor. Trust me, she’s going to need one if she continues to get $100,000 bumps in pay as she meets or exceeds expectations.

Does Ms. Sculley really think that making an annual salary of almost half a million dollars would cloister her from criticisms and jests? Does it take a guy like Christian Archer to explain to us commoners that rather than being upset, the poor dear was simply confused?

While I think Sheryl Sculley is the best city manager San Antonio ever had, I think she’s awfully thin-skinned if she can’t take a salary joke. It’s my opinion that Nelson Wolff made an entirely appropriate jest to possibly torque down symphony member resentment.

We understand the need to create a history museum, in the three buildings across from the Alamo. But if there is no lunch counter in the Woolworth building that commemorates the sit-in by the black community, showing the importance of this local act of civil disobedience, then this is not only a monumental insult to the black community but to all of us who appreciate this bravery and are inspired by it.

And I add — now, with this sea change about public display of Confederacy worship — the lunch counter is where I want to eat when I visit the Alamo.

I noticed that there was coverage of the feminist rally in San Antonio. Why was there no coverage of the several pro-life gatherings? Of course, this is not new. It has been ongoing the past 45 years, starting in Washington, D.C.

Let me see if I get this right: The military was doing its job but not getting paid. Congress was not doing its job and getting paid. If they had stopped Congress’ check, the shutdown would have come to a screeching halt long before it did.

God help us if Oprah Winfrey should become the president of the United States. She has an ego bigger than Donald Trump’s. It could happen. All she has to do is appeal to the downtrodden women and they will usher her in.

I am a Republican, and I voted for Donald Trump because he was the best candidate and I believe in most of his policies. However, the commentary by Henry Cisneros on the Dreamer who lived in his guest house while pursuing a college degree has cemented my opinion that these people need to be taken care of.

We all need to contact our members of Congress, to implore them to solve this problem once and for all. This is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue; it is a humanitarian issue. Our president wants to use leverage on this issue to gain funding for a wall. What is more important: blocking the president’s agenda at any cost, or legalizing 800,000 Dreamers so they can go to sleep at night, without fear their entire life will be destroyed?

The Democrats see the Dreamers as a potential voter base; the Republicans see them as a means to an end. For the sake of all that is decent, please see the Dreamers as fellow human beings with a need to belong.

When I saw your front page Saturday morning, I was dismayed to see no mention of the economic growth we have and are experiencing. Instead, there was a box promoting inside stories about “supposed” Trump problems, including immigration.

Well, neither Donald Trump nor Congress (which really is the body that needs to be held accountable) has passed anything on immigration, so not sure why that’s a story. This is a prime example of the bias in your newspaper.

Did you treat President Barack Obama the same way? Did you ask weekly why he didn’t tackle immigration reform or economic revitalization? Yet you keep with the derogatory and “fake news” stories on Trump.

I am not saying he is perfect, and believe me, I’m bewildered at some of his tweets. But please report the good with the bad. It would be nice to read some good news, as it is deserved as well.

In a stunning display of hubris and a complete disdain for federal immigration laws, Police Chief William McManus allowed detained illegal immigrants to walk out of police headquarters. He should be fired for dereliction of duty. The chief is like a despot, deciding which laws he obeys and which laws he flaunts. It’s disgusting.

African-Americans are prosecuted left and right, but illegal immigrants walk out. What does this say to law-abiding American citizens? To the African-American community, who already thinks the system works against them? We arrest you for looking sideways, but illegal immigrants, who could be terrorists, are just let out the door.

Why should we obey the law when the chief of police doesn’t? It’s infuriating and undermines the rule of law. I’m no fan of Mike Helle, the police union president, but I’m now with him in his criticism of McManus. I no longer trust him to enforce the law. He’s a complete disgrace.

Where is the mayor on this? Asleep at the wheel, as usual, and I voted for him.

Regarding the actresses wearing black to express a political point of view at the Golden Globes, weren’t we recently told that entertainment is not the place for political expression? This is what folks were telling the black athletes at NFL games. I don’t hear anybody saying this to the predominantly rich white actresses who wore black as a protest.

So, is it OK for the rich white ladies to engage in political expression at an entertainment event, but it is not OK for black athletes? Is political expression OK at entertainment events, but only if we are comfortable with the viewpoint being expressed? That would render the First Amendment meaningless.

If it is OK for these rich white actresses, then black athletes must also enjoy that right. Freedom of expression means nothing if you are free to express only that with which others are comfortable. Something, it seems, is very, very wrong here.

What a wonderful experience it was watching San Antonio’s celebration welcoming the new year. The exuberance and joy exhibited by all of the KSAT personalities were contagious. They made you forget all the difficulties, uncertainties and inefficiencies associated with the planning for San Antonio’s Tricentennial. With these folks touting the various activities, I think they will encourage a lot of folks to get out and participate in this wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime experience through the year.

Again, a big “Thank you!” to KSAT’s hardworking, fun-loving people. You folks keep doing what you did on New Year’s Eve and hopefully you’ll inspire the planning committee to match your enthusiasm. Who knows, maybe they should ask for input from this exuberant group.

It is a sad commentary when our public officials can spend taxpayer dollars to remove statues from parks, change names of high schools in an effort to rewrite history, and use tax incentives to encourage greedy developers to turn our beautiful River Walk into a cement canyon, while allowing our wonderful world-class symphony to fail for lack of funding.

Shame on you, Ron Nirenberg, Sheryl Sculley and the entire City Council. Look at the Centro organization and take some funds from there to support our symphony.

We homeowners not only pay exorbitant property taxes to live downtown, we must pay an additional tax because we live in the Public Improvement District. While we fought valiantly against this tax, it was shoved down our throats without a second thought. Take some of that PID money and support the symphony, since the Tobin Center is in the PID.

Why did we fund/build the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts if we do not support the primary occupants of this center? San Antonio wants to be a world-class city. Losing our symphony would reduce that designation to second-class.

This excellent column about the politicization of sports — and everything else — struck a chord. Unfortunately, some sports figures have taken legitimate concerns about specific policemen and policies to extremes and, as Bragg said, it afflicts the viewing public.

Almost everyone sympathizes with victims of discrimination, knowing there is an occasional rogue policeman who should never be in a position of authority. No one should be accused of being unpatriotic for resisting bigotry, but disrespecting the flag, and those who died defending it, is not the right way to fight bias. They should voice their concerns by simply speaking out against the conditions that concern them.

During the campaign last year, I preferred at least 15 or 16 Republican candidates to Donald Trump. But he was elected, and we must respect the outcome. However, he should be more productive and presidential, spending less time tweeting about politicians or columnists. I have heard repeatedly that “Trump should do his job and shut up!”

Which brings us to another person who should keep his thoughts to himself; Gregg Popovich. He may be the best coach in the world, but like Trump, he should keep his thoughts to himself, doing only what he is employed to do.

All the complaining, fault-finding and derision from these two men are unproductive and unnecessary, so they both should do their jobs and shut up!

With all the skeletons coming out of the closet nowadays, I fear that “the hug” may become obsolete.

So let’s talk about “the hug.” It is so versatile. It’s a greeting, a goodbye and a congratulatory gesture. It’s for grieving souls.

A hug can mean so much more than words ever could. And a hug from a little child — indescribable.

In this day of sexual harassment, we tend to shy away from physical contact. What a shame, but that’s the way it is. Nobody wants to risk his/her reputation if there is any possibility of “inappropriate action.”

The letter writer praised President Donald Trump for rolling back regulations, which in turned has caused the economy to drastically improve. This may or may not be true, but I do know that every time I board an airplane or open a can of tuna fish, I am glad we have regulations.

Corporations will definitely improve their bottom line, but what about the environment, the safety of their employees and customers, or the quality of their product? Someone will suffer.

I have a beef about the traffic lights, basically all around the city. They need to be synchronized to allow for better traffic flow.

At Walzem Road and FM 1978, you could die of old age before that light changes — and the next half-mile north is the same. It’s really bad when people are trying to get home after a hard day’s work. Sometimes the traffic is backed up all the way to the Walmart.

Alleviating this problem would save a lot of energy, driving time and frustration.

I have become so embarrassed by the behavior of evangelicals that I’ve gotten to the point that I don’t want to wear a cross anymore. I don’t want anyone to think that I am one of them. Also, I realized yesterday when I was greeting fellow shoppers with the words “Merry Christmas” a sense of discomfort began rising within me. I realized that some might think that I’m fighting the fake war on Christmas which they have manufactured. I guess that in the end it’s just best for me to let people suspect that I am a Christian by the way that I treat others.

A statue was removed in Travis Park, the most important part of which was the hat. I speak on behalf of all of the pigeons who lost their commode atop that piece of stone. The Christmas tree is beautiful, but just try to imagine a pigeon trying to use it on a bristly limb or a hot light as the commodious hat had so served birds for generations. And bats, too, have been poorly treated in this great city. There were numerous bat roosts throughout the city many years past, for mosquito control, so that they didn’t have to roost under bridges and such, more vulnerable to their predators. So please, fathers of the city and county, pause to consider the effect of your statue politics on our creatures as you shift things around to placate the citizens who sometimes get lost in the past over carved stone, both sides, of course.

It amazes me when irresponsible parents, many years ago, illegally bring their children to the U.S., then clamor for more! More benefits, citizenship, special treatment, etc. Who brought them here illegally in the first place? Exactly, and, therefore, those same parents need to figure it out.

Are taxpaying Americans bigots, haters and many more unprintable names simply for wanting our laws, the bedrock making this country great, abided by? Laws represent the very foundation that has made the U.S. the No. 1 preferred destination in the world. Perfect? No! Best? Yes!

I say go back home, legally apply for re-entry and play by the rules. Yes, that has its problems and seemingly insurmountable obstacles (which they are not!). But that responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of those who violated our laws in the first place. It used to be called taking responsibility for your actions. Now I think it’s called social justice or another “lofty” term meant to deflect responsibility.

It would be nice if Mayor Ron Nirenberg and the City Council paid as much attention to the real problems here as they do to climate change. You know, things like crime, potholes, missing street signs, and attracting new business and jobs. Things that affect the average person. Not climate change, which the average person is not really worried about.

But what can one expect from a very liberal mayor and his cronies in City Hall? A mayor and City Council more concerned about removing statues and changing locations of the Christmas tree, even though residents want the tree exactly where it has been for years.

On Dec. 7, I was so excited to read about the Tricentennial, a Ferris wheel, a climate plan, a baby killer, etc. But no mention of Pearl Harbor Day? Oh, well, I guess a tribute to this day doesn’t rise to the level of importance as those front-page items.

The lack of “situational awareness” put these firefighters at undue risk, resulting in the catastrophic events. The cause and effect of each finding must be focused to prevent recurrence. The safety and health of the firefighters must remain the highest priority.

Procedures must be followed, and violations of those procedures must be noted and corrected. Firefighters are part of a loyal team and will do anything their superiors dictate. There are no lone heroes; firefighting is a team effort to reduce the risk of every individual of that team.

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Nick Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles deserve congratulations and admiration for their hard work, which led to their first Super Bowl win.

But Philadelphia fans need to be boycotted from enjoying this victory. For decades, they have been the most vile, disgusting reprobates in the history of fandom. As a former Dallas Cowboy fan, I have witnessed Philly fans throwing snowballs with batteries at players, opponents and fans. I have also seen them urinate on opposing fans, bullying them with what I considered felonious intent. Philly fans even threw battery-filled snowballs at Santa Claus! Malice with aforethought is their creed. A felony.

Foles is an Austin-Westlake graduate. To celebrate his great achievement as MVP, Philadelphia fans in Austin desecrated and vandalized the memorial statue of Stevie Ray Vaughn with green paint and trashed his legacy. This is par for Philly fans. The worst in the nation. They don’t deserve this win.

Craig C. Budreau, Austin

Diversity overrated

I keep on hearing and reading that “diversity makes us stronger.”

Really? How exactly? Certainly, diversity can “apparently” make us stronger. The integration of like-minded immigrants willing to embrace American values, work to support themselves and their families, strengthen our workforce and add to our collective priorities of remaining the strongest and most prosperous country in the world undeniably makes us stronger.

However, there is no data, no unbiased proof whatsoever that unchecked and illegal immigration will do anything other than flood the country with thousands — indeed millions — of questionable, and in many cases dangerous, people. The integration of social justice ideologues, with no ability to engage and accept co-workers with differing viewpoints, certainly does not add any value in terms of diversity.

At the end of the day, “diversity makes us stronger” is simply code for “we are going to slam our minority’s views down your throat.”

I am visiting San Antonio and happened to visit Burgerteca and had a delightful experience.

Your reviewer seemed to have an entirely different experience. He also missed the opportunity to note the burger buns are made in-house, along with the ice cream. The beef is fresh, the veggie beet burger exceptional, and the mole fries were amazing and unique.

They have been in operation for two months I was told. This place deserves a second bite.

Barry Infuso, Tucson, Arizona

Sad farewell

Re: “Public affairs show still up in air; KLRN slot not filled months after Casey’s exit,” front page, Feb. 4:

Rick Casey’s “Texas Week” was a jewel among the thorns in our local media. We are overrun with “parrot radio,” where the hosts are rude, crude and ill-informed, not wishing to be confused by evidence-based facts.

Rick Casey’s measured responses to issues, with his institutional history, in a thoughtful, sometimes witty but always civil discourse with these guests, was a highlight in my week. He asked hard questions, but in a polite manner.

It seems quite strange that the historical supporters of the program (John “Chico” Newman, William Scanlan and others) were not contacted with an update regarding the imminent loss of “Texas Week.” Surely Rep. Lamar Smith does not want his reputation soiled with the link to the petty dismissal of Casey. Had Casey’s many fans known, I’m quite sure we would have risen to the occasion to support him before it was too late.

We have read and enjoyed most of Gilbert Garcia’s columns. We believe he has hit a new high with this column and hope that everyone in Texas House District 122 reads it and gives it serious thought.

Lyle Larson is one of the most critical members of the Legislature. We desperately need people with the wisdom and courage of their convictions to stand tall on all important matters. Larson has those traits and obviously uses them.

It is disappointing to see what a small, insecure man Gov. Greg Abbott seems to be. Instead of listening to, and learning from, Rep. Larson, he is trying to “run him out of town.” It was particularly humorous for the governor to call Lyle a liberal and that he should be a Democrat. Considering Lyle’s position on all the issues he addresses, could the governor actually be that ignorant?

Hopefully, everyone in District 122 will vote for Larson and against Abbott. We are.

In the next election, maybe we can encourage Larson to run for governor.